Starting next season, all Guelph Minor Hockey Association rep teams will be wearing the colours and logo of the University of Guelph Gryphons men’s and women’s hockey teams.

The University of Guelph announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon a new multi-year partnership between Gryphon athletics and the Guelph Minor Hockey Association.

The new partnership is the first of its kind with an Ontario university sponsoring a local, municipal sports association, offering various levels of support to all members of the GMHA: House league through Rep programs, said the release.

Guelph rep teams, starting in the 2013-2014 season, will have “Gryphons” as their handle, said Michelle Pino, sports information and media relations coordinator for Gryphons Athletics.

The GMHA’s rep hockey teams currently sport the Guelph Storm logo and are called “Junior Storm.”

“This will be a wonderful partnership between the Gryphons and the GMHA. Being attached to the GMHA and supporting the hundreds of young hockey players is exciting for the department of athletics and our varsity hockey teams,” said University of Guelph director of athletics Tom Kendall, in the release.

“It gives us another great opportunity to engage with the Guelph sports community. We hope that we can help their young players develop and in turn we are excited to have them and their parents watching our Gryphons as they strive to win a national championship. This is a win-win situation for everyone.”

Gryphon athletics will sponsor and support six house league teams. The focus will also be on hockey development and promoting hockey education with programs and workshops to be planned with varsity coaches and GMHA coaches.
Other highlights in the partnership agreement are:
• All GMHA member players will receive a Jr. Gryphon membership card for admission to any Gryphon varsity sporting event (excluding Homecoming football).
• All GMHA Member players will receive a discount off any Gryphon summer camp program
• All GMHA Member players will receive preferred pricing for select Gryphon apparel

Said GMHA president Chuck Nash, in the release: “We are very excited about this new partnership which goes beyond hockey and into our community.”